THE GAMING ACT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13966, 26 July 1909, Page 2

THE GAMING ACT.

The remarks ot the president ol the Racing Conference at Wellington last week on the subject of the new antigambling law are worthy oi more attention than has probably been ghon to them. The object ot tlie Legislature in passing the law was, we presume, to bring gambling and betting under closer control, and, it possible, to lestrict them. Needless to say, it has lailed utterly, lor everyone knows that there is more betting on horse races since the law came into force than beioie. It lihs failed to rectify the abuses which existed and it has-brougbt into renewed existence otheis which the racing clubs, or the more reputable among them, had tor years l>eeii striving to suppress. Sir George Clifford ailirmed that the legalised connection of the bookmaker with the organisation of racing has lessened the confidence of the public and ot own-, ers, and has exposed trainers and jockeys to temptations from which the\ were long, exempt. So utterly, indeed, has it failed, that Parliament ought at the earliest opportunity to take steps either to repeal the new law or amend it in the direction which common sense dictates. The positiou is that racing clubs, instead of being able to .control the betting machinery on their courses ani^at least keep it straight and above board, have now to permit the entry to their courses of practically every blackleg who can raise the license tee. The clubs, it is true, may exercise their discretion as to whom they shall admit and license, but few ot them are prepared to take it upon themselves to say that this or that man is unfit to hold a license.' Nor is it to be expected that they will do so, except in the case of notoriously bad characters. As a consequence the calling of bookmaker has received many recruits, often very undesirable ones, who simply prey upon society. Tho duty of weeding out the black fcheep should, as Sir George Clifford suggests, bo cast, not upon the racing clubs but on the bookmaliing . fraternity. Let them, as he says, form associations — they used to have one — whose badges may be regarded as an

indication of careiul selection and trustworthiness. The business ot men unworthy in the estimation of their fellows to obtain the badge would quickly dwindle. Only the tit would survive and the turf would be rid of a reproach which hangs over it at present.